V.E.-Weapons: the foundations of power.
The abundance of weapons in Iberian burials is arguably the best indicator of the profound changes that took place between the Orientalizing/Early Iberian period and the later phase. As we have already seen, from the last decades of the 5th century BC (c. 425-410 BC) onwards the percentage of burials with weapons rose sharply. Perhaps the site at Cabezo Lucero in Alicante (Aranegui et al. 1993) is the best example of the dramatic rise in the number of weapons from c. 425 BC. During the 4th century BC this pattern became the norm, and between 25-45% of burials with weapons is a normal figure in the Southeast Iberian cemeteries (see Figure 13), such as Cabecico del Tesoro (Quesada, 1989) or Cigarralejo (Cuadrado, 1989).
Thus, while weapons had been rare during the Orientalizing and Early Iberian period and mostly limited to princely or very rich burials, during the 'Iberico Pleno' in the 4th century BC the right -or custom- of carrying weapons into the grave became much more extended, including wider -lower- segments of the population. Another significant fact is that weapons are now often found grouped into coherent panoplies: the simpler ones consist of falcata sword, round shield and two spears; the complex ones may also contain a helmet, soliferreum and dagger. It is not uncommon, however, for the concept of wealth through accumulation observed when discussing Attic pottery and other grave goods should also lead to the stockpiling of weapons: it is thus possible to find three or more spearheads, two swords and even, very occasionally, two shields in a particular burial, therefore disturbing the original 'functional' or 'coherent' panoplies.
Thus, on the one hand, the richer Iberian burials had a distinct 'military' appearance during the 4th century BC as complex sets of weapons -often decorated with silver inlay motifs- represent a considerable part of the grave goods; on the other hand, weapons also became common in poorer burials.
It has in fact been proved that burials in all wealth groups contain weapons, but that while nearly all of the very rich burials contain them, only a small proportion of the poorer groups have weapons, and these are usually simple panoplies without daggers, helmets and other elements of the richer assemblages (see Quesada, 1994b:Fig.5). It can also be proved, however, that burials with weapons are on the whole considerably richer than those without them, and that this is the case even if the weapons themselves are not taken into account when calculating the figures for wealth deposited in the different categories of burials. In a society much more involved with weapons than before, it seems that these differences in wealth must also mean differences in social status, an idea confirmed by the fact that the pattern of deposition of weapons tends to coincide with that of imported Attic pottery, the other great indicator of status and wealth (see Quesada, 1989, 1994b, Santos Velasco 1994 and especially 1989:83-85).

The most well-known weapon of the iberos is the famous falcata.
Falcata found in Almenedilla, Cordova. One of the best one conserved examples of this beautiful Spanish sword.

The falcata is a weapon of Spanish origin, in fact is a streamlined type of gladius Roman hispaniensis or gladius, that after the arrival from Rome to Spain happened to comprise of the Roman fighting equipment. The leaf of the falcata approximately measures about 45 cm. in length, that is to say, the length of the arm. In fact there were not two equal falcatas, since these valuable Roman swords made of order, reason why each one had measures according to the arm of his sir.

In all Mediterranean the quality of these arms, made with an iron mineral was admired of highest purity. Its flexibility was so that the armorers placed it on their heads doubling them until the end and the grip touched their shoulders. If the Roman sword returned to its straight position when loosen it of blow were an art work, if it were not fused to return to make it. Greek that arrived at Spain took the falcata with himself and had great acceptance, becoming the second used weapon more after the hoplita sword.

English:
. 22, Ajuar of a tomb of Galera. Some tombs were characterized, to have pillars or wakes finished off by animals of apotropaico character and funeral sense, that they defend and they protect the sacred place. They are zoomorfas sculptures that represent mythical bulls, lions or animals like faucets or esfinges (esfinge of Agost, the Aqueloo known like "Bicha" of Balazote) (Room XX, vits. 7 and 11). The variety of ajuares (fig 22) deposited in these tombs indicates the differences of spending power and social status of the people who composed the Iberian society. Between its more common materials they emphasize: Arms (soliferrea, falcatas (fig 23), shields...): its presence has been interpreted traditionally like pertaining to the buried soldier, but this relation not always is exact as it demonstrates the tomb of Lady of Trick (Room XX, vit. 6), whose rest pertenen, apparently, to a woman. Cases as this one speaks of the remarkable social consideration that some women in this society enjoyed. Fig 23, Iberian Falcata

Turanclancath aka Don Turan

Let the 4 Queens rule the World
You reign from here to Eternity
Queen of Queens,Empress of Empresses

and RITES OF SACRIFICE the text is a version of chapter 9 of the book of Fernando Quesada Sanz the falcata. Weapon and old symbol of the Iberos, that will be published by the Aldebarán publishing house, being predicted its publication in May of 2001. We presented/displayed an advance here. We sent to this work for greater details and bibliographical apparatus. INDEX: Of how the Iberos they transformed kopis and they created the falcata But why? Possible causes of the adoption and transformation of machaira funeral Contexts of appearance of the Iberian falcata ritual Putting outs of action the falcata, symbol of being able and wealth Arms in sanctuaries the small falcatas? votive offering machaira in Greece and Italy and the ritual sacrifice ` knife afalcatadó and the falcata: sacrificiales connotations

Turanclancath aka Don Turan

Let the 4 Queens rule the World
You reign from here to Eternity
Queen of Queens,Empress of Empresses

Hello everybody.
My great friend Don Turan has introduced me to this interesting forum and I am delighted to cooperate with an enhancing of the translation of the Spanish text about the "Tomb of Galera" (Spanish is my native language):

Some tombs were characterized by pillars or wakes finished off by animals of apotropaic (like sentinels, warding off) character and funeral sense, that defend and protect the sacred place. They are zoomorphic sculptures that represent mythical bulls, lions or animals like griffin or sphinx (sphinx of Agost, the Aqueloo known like "Bicha" of Balazote) (Room XX, vits. 7 and 11). The variety of objects (fig 22) deposited in these tombs indicates the differences of spending power and social status of the people who composed the Iberian society.
Between its more common materials we can find: Arms (soliferrea, falcatas (fig 23), shields...): its presence has been interpreted traditionally like belonging to the buried soldier, but this relation is not always exact as it demosntrated in the tomb of Lady of Baza (Room XX, vit. 6), whose remains belong, apparently, to a woman.
Cases like this speak of the remarkable social consideration that some women enjoyed in this society. Fig 23, Iberian Falcata

Note: Bicha isa fantastic animal with breast of woman, paws with claws, wings, present too in the Spanish baroque decorations. Bicha is also an animal of the folk tales, to scare children.